Counting One's Blessings

by William Shawcross

  I leave here on Tuesday, for rather horrid London, & shall look forward very much to your arrival at Birkhall next year. Keep a whole week, or ten days – do.

  Your affect: friend. ER

  14 January 1957 to Sir Osbert Sitwell

  Sandringham

  My dear Sir Osbert,

  The delightful book of the lakes of Scotland arrived safely, and I write to thank you most warmly for sending me such a charming present.

  It is wonderful to hear that you are writing poetry, and I hope that means you are well & busy as ever.

  Do you remember the glorious Poetry readings of past years?

  I wish that we could have another some day – it might be very instructive too, as so much has happened since those far off days of ten years ago.

  It is being very enjoyable here, & fairly peaceful except for political upsets. I feel so sorry for Anthony Eden,* who has given so much of his life to serving his country, and then when things go a little wrong, he is allowed to go with scarcely one word of thanks from Press & public. He has great courage, & could not be mean or spiteful, and I personally can remember particularly what able & generous support he gave Winston all through the war. So one feels sad for him just now.

  I have not seen Hannah lately, but am hoping to attend one of her all male luncheon parties in the Spring! […]

  I do hope that we can have a meeting when you return to beautiful England. I suppose it will not be until summer time, but it seems a very long time since we had a talk.

  With again my very grateful thanks for the enchanting book,

  I am, yours very sincerely,

  Elizabeth R

  28 January 1957 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Sandringham

  My Darling Lilibet

  I wish that I could tell you how much I loved being here with you for such a heavenly long visit. I look forward to it madly as being a time when I can really see you and the darling children in comparative peace, and I am deeply grateful for all your angelic kindness & thoughtfulness towards me. It is so curious that this is the only place where I can find a sort of peace of mind – I suppose it is because every bit is associated with happy memories, and I am quite blissful to [go] out by myself, & visit the horses or look at the marshes. I do wish that you could have had one really quiet week at the end of January […] with nothing to do! But it was difficult, and thank you so very much for letting me stay on for a bit. I am sure I shall build up a good resistance to flu, because it does make one feel so ill for so long, & such a waste of time!

  I do hope that you are really feeling better, & it was wretched luck having that attack just before the horrible tooth, and I felt miserable for you. John Griffin [Queen Elizabeth’s Press Secretary] survived 2 days, & then retired to bed, & his temp: is 102!!

  It has been a wonderful month of happiness darling & I do feel fortunate to have such a kind & loving daughter, and I thank you again a thousand times for such a heavenly time.

  Your very loving

  Mummy

  1 July 1957 to Lady Clark

  Government House

  Salisbury

  Rhodesia

  My dear Lady Clark,

  I have journeyed many thousands of miles since I left lovely Saltwood on Saturday morning, but very vivid in my mind is the picture of your incomparable home, and I shall never forget the beauty and extraordinary atmosphere of the Castle on that glorious June evening.

  I do not know how to thank you and Sir Kenneth for all your great kindness and hospitality – it was a most delightful experience staying with you, and I loved every moment of that enchanted night at Saltwood.

  From the first thrill of suddenly coming upon the Castle set so splendidly amongst the deep green of the trees, to the wonderful and romantic walls, the perfect cocktail party (everyone nice and no noise!!) the delicious dinner, and the pleasure of seeing such lovely pictures and objects in such a setting – all was exquisite and enjoyable, and I am deeply grateful to you both for such a pleasure.

  I really was carried away by the beauty, and set out for Dunkirk* which as an emotional experience I dreaded, greatly heartened and strengthened by my visit. I do like to think of you both living in that heavenly place, making it even more beautiful and to be loved every year – I always ‘feel’ a place, and Saltwood affected me enormously – It did something to my spirit, a sort of calming and yet elevating effect which was extraordinary, and most comforting!

  But above all the great beauty was the kindness and thoughtfulness of my host and hostess – I was so very touched by such goodness, and I shall always carry with me the happiest memories of such a perfect visit.

  With heartfelt thanks, I am,

  Yours very sincerely,

  Elizabeth R

  In January 1958, Queen Elizabeth set off on a round-the-world journey – the first member of her family to do so by air. After flying across Canada, she arrived in New Zealand at the start of a five-week tour of that country and Australia.

  9 February 1958 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Government House

  Wellington

  New Zealand

  My Darling Lilibet,

  This is really the first opportunity I have had of writing to you, and you will receive a letter written with rather a trembling hand, under a bleary eye! It has been hard going since I arrived here, but the welcome has been very heartfelt I think, & everyone speaks of yours & Philip’s visit with great love & feeling. I went to the races yesterday, & when I gave the Cup to old Sir Ernest Davies who had won the race, he roared up to the microphone & said that he wished to present me with Bali H’ai* the winner as a present from all the sports people of New Zealand!! You can imagine my feelings! And at once I thought of you & Margaret saying ‘what has Mummy done now’, & Charles Moore’s face of half ‘boo’ & half ‘ha ha’! Actually he won the St Leger here, & this race was a mile & a half, & he’s a gelding, so don’t let’s worry too soon.

  It was terribly hot in the North, & I was still feeling the effects of that horrible flu, but gradually felt better, until today, when I spent an anguished hour in the Cathedral here trying not to fall down! My head started to go round just like it did in London before I left, & my knees trembled so much that the service paper rattled & rustled! It was really an agony, & the first time in my life that such a thing has happened to me – I know that it is only the result of that horrid disease we got at Sandringham, & I pray that it will die down again. […]

  Darling, I hope that all goes well, & I hope that I shall be able to revive & do my bit in Australia.

  Your v. loving

  Mummy

  18 February 1958 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Government House

  Canberra

  My Darling Lilibet

  I feel that I have written you such scrappy & flu-ridden letters so far, & today I hope to send you a better one! At the moment I am free of that foul disease, so life is looking up, and my three days here have been a positive rest after the mad rush of N.Z.

  It is lovely to be in such a nice house, & looking out on such a lovely view. Did you not find it restful?

  The welcome in N.Z. was deeply touching. I do think it wonderful to find such burning loyalty nowadays, and what a mental rest to find serious, well written newspapers. One had forgotten how vulgar ours have become, & it was quite a shock to return here to the headliny, gossipy, untruthful kind of writing. They are rather more on the American pattern here, aren’t they. So far they are quite polite, & go on the old old stories of how tired I am, & how much my feet hurt, & how tired the staff is, & how I must dye my hair otherwise how could it still be dark etc. etc.!! Quite harmless, & quite funny sometimes. Dennis Mitchell* really is [a] splendid person. He has had a very great deal of work with all this incessant flying, & keeps everyone happy. I thought I would tell you this in case you see Mouse [Fielden].

  Mr Macmillan had a tremendous success here. They all loved him, & Dorothy, and I am sure that his tour & his s
peeches & his friendliness have done immense good. The first time a P.M. has done this sort of thing I imagine. […]

  Dr Evatt* came to see me yesterday, & gave me a picture – You know how he & Mr Menzies† loathe each other, & Mr Menzies gave me a very good traditional Australian painting, so Dr Evatt cunningly outdid with an excitingly modern one!

  They are so political here, aren’t they? I must fly darling (literally!), & will write again soon.

  A very great deal of love from

  your loving

  Mummy

  18 February 1958 to Cecil Boyd-Rochfort

  Government House

  Canberra

  My dear Cecil,

  The other day in New Zealand, I presented a Gold Cup to the owner of the horse that won it, & in return he presented me with the horse! I was rather taken aback, but as it was done in public, there was nothing to do about it!

  I wondered whether you would be very kind, & take the horse for anyway a little time, & see what you think of him? I feel that the owner, a rich old man of 86 [Sir Ernest Davies], will be very disappointed if he doesn’t go to a stable, and of course the eyes of all the racing people in NZ are on him.

  He won their St Leger, & this Gold Cup of a mile and a half, I think. I do hope that you will have room for him, & if he is not good enough, off to Peter Cazalet, I suppose!

  I am, yours very sincerely

  Elizabeth R

  22 February 1958 to Princess Margaret

  Government House

  Sydney

  My Darling Margaret,

  I was so delighted to get your delicious letter, so full of news, and of interesting things. I am thrilled to hear about the Epstein.* I do admire his work, & was wondering for a long time whether he would be a good person to do Papa’s tomb in St George’s [Chapel]. If he could do something grand & yet loving, I am sure it would fit into that lovely place. What do you think, having sat to him?

  I have been hurtling about as usual & was very glad to be in my dear Queensland. […]

  [I have been] staying on a station called Coochin Coochin with three glorious maiden ladies called the Miss Bells. They were heaven, rather over excited, & never drew breath and they had some very beautiful nephews, all called Bill. The real country Australian is really a knock out. Very tall, with long legs encased in tight trousers, blue eyes, a drawl, & a Stetson – they are too charming for words, & the American cowboy is a mere nothing compared. […] I am thinking of you at Fairlawne, & hope that you found the dear beautiful unsuccessful horses well. The trouble is that they look so well in the stable, & perform so poorly on the racecourse.

  So looking forward to seeing you again my darling. Only about 2½ weeks, & you will clasp a mottled, beady eyed mother in your arms once again. Tiny red eyes, & hideous sunburn!

  Your very loving Mummy

  1 March 1958 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Government House

  Melbourne

  My Darling Lilibet

  I was so enchanted to get your letter today, giving me the news I have been pining for, and it was so interesting, & so full of really pithy steeplechasing gossip that I felt quite close to it all again!

  I also got a telegram saying that Opalescent had hurt his fetlock. I do hope that it isn’t serious, & I hear that you quite rightly sent him to Miss Wilmot. It would be a bitter blow if he didn’t come back, because I have always had nice dreams about him, & tho’ those things are silly, they are fun.

  I have just had a very enjoyable day’s racing at Flemington, with an objection to the Queen Elizabeth Cup. It was rather sad, as the winner Sailor’s Guide was a very popular Victorian horse, & there was a roar when he won. Then a huge groan for an objection, and an agonized wait of 10 minutes. The second (who objected) was owned by a Sydney bookmaker, so you can imagine the tension! Then the objection was overruled & another roar went up! I think that you saw this race, & didn’t Mr Underwood win it?

  I got up early this morning, & went to see Landau. He looks very well, & has got some very nice foals I believe.

  I am just hanging on, but this tour is just a little bit too much, as they literally haven’t left a minute for breathing. Luckily the weather here is lovely, and one feels revived.

  I went to Tasmania for lunch yesterday. That’s the form! It was a gloriously crazy day, & I haven’t laughed so much for years! First of all, we arrived in a howling gale, which is always faintly funny.

  Sir Ronald Cross had an A.D.C. from the Grenadiers who was having ghastly trouble with a huge bearskin, & I thought he had gone mad when he conducted me firmly to the back of the Guard of Honour. I had visions of inspecting their backs, when on a word of command, they revolved, & we faced each other bravely. Then on arrival at their house, there was drawn up a lot of Army nurses to inspect. As I started down the line, a particularly vicious blast took all their hats off, & being round & flat, they rolled away like little bicycles!

  Then the public address system broke down when I was making my very boring speech, & then we had a mad chauffeur who obediently slowed down on approaching a group of people, and then accelerated violently when passing them, so all the poor things saw was a pair of white shoes, as I was thrown back against the seat & my feet shot into the air. Let us hope that they thought they saw little white hands waving.

  Darling, when I wrote about the English papers, I was only remembering that they never put in anything that the family does, & I only mind for the Australians. Because they give one such a tremendous and loyal welcome here, and don’t understand when our papers are not interested. I don’t care a damn about myself, as I’m sure you know, but I do think that from prestige & all that, it is very sad the ‘looking in’ of our very bad Press. They don’t look out at all.

  […]

  Will you arrange about the train on the Wed. for Cheltenham? I shall be so cold, & so mottled in the face I expect, that I shall lean on you for plans. Tiny red eyes, sunk into a sunburnt, wrinkled face, a reddish nose & quite deaf. That will be your dear little mother. ‘Good on yer, Mum’ – ‘Come back soon’ – How nice they are & how wonderfully loyal. I have been deeply touched by their very true feelings of love, & amazed at their enthusiastic reception.

  Longing to see you darling Lilibet, from your very loving

  Mummy

  Shall we meet Monday evening? I don’t want to be alone for dinner.*

  3 June 1958 to Sir D’Arcy Osborne

  Clarence House

  My dear D’Arcy,

  This is to ask you a VERY IMPORTANT question. WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?

  Is it to be in July, or are you going to do the same as last year and come later on?

  I do hope that you will be able to face the rigours of Birkhall once again. Your stick is awaiting you in the hall, & when I left it yesterday, it was hanging out of the stand with such a beseeching look on its handle-face, obviously longing for the firm but tender clasp of the Osborne fingers.

  If you come in July, I shall be at Sandringham from the 26th for about ten days, do come too.

  I have just been to Birkhall for ten days’ fishing. The first weekend it rained solidly for 2 days & the river roared & was unfishable. Then I caught a flu germ, & had to stay in for three days when the weather was lovely & the river perfect. Then when I was well again, it started to rain & the river roared & became unfishable, & then I had to come back to London! Wasn’t it sad?

  Do you think that poor honourable General de Gaulle will be able to galvanise the French into combining a little for the sake of France?* I do hope so.

  I am so glad that the new apartment is such a success. I am sure that you have made it lovely, & I long to see it.

  Ever your affectionate friend,

  Elizabeth R

  5 June 1958 to Cecil Boyd-Rochfort

  Clarence House

  My dear Cecil,

  Thank you so much for giving me details of poor Bali H’ai’s setback.

  It was kind of you to write so fully, and it is i
ndeed sad that we shall not see this summer how he measures up to our English horses.

  I have felt so much for you over all your anxieties & dramas connected to the Derby. It really was cruel Alcide going wrong like that, and certainly Miner’s Lamp had very little luck in the race.

  Those weeks before must have been most trying, and I did feel for you very deeply. Horses are the nicest thing in the world, but they do manage to give one headaches occasionally!

  I hope that your evening with Mr Guggenheim* went off all right – I thought he was so nice & modest, & sporting to take these long trips to see his horse run.

  I am, Yours very sincerely,

  Elizabeth R

  24 July 1958 to Princess Margaret [in Canada]

  Clarence House

  My darling Margaret,

  I have a feeling that Canada gives one a boost – even with very hard work – do you agree? They are so nice, & so loving, and the Mounties are so beautiful & so romantic. It all helps. […]

  I gave a cocktail party for 200 Bishops from overseas – by the time that 8 o’clock came, they were in cracking form! They tucked into all the canapés & tossed down martini after martini, especially the Americans who I am sure had been entertained on warm sherry for weeks before!

  Lilibet seems really better at last – it has been a horribly obstinate germ, I do hope that it is now dead. […]

  Your very loving

  Mummy

  30 January 1959 to Sir D’Arcy Osborne

  Clarence House

  My dear D’Arcy,

  I can’t believe that at last I am coming to Rome! It really is too exciting, and I am looking forward to it all so much. It is the first time in my life that I am to visit a place just for pleasure, and I hope it all works out. I think that Margaret will probably come with me, but that is not settled, so nothing to be said at the moment. I shall love to come to luncheon with you, and place myself in your hands as to plans – and of course I will visit the school for orphans – that is one thing I am determined to do.